Musings on time and nature

When being in a landscape, when you are outside, do you really see, smell and hear what surrounds you? Do you become aware of the chatter of the birds, the clicking of insects, the whispers of the wind through the branches of the trees?

Yesterday I was walking on a sidewalk in the city and I saw the sparkles of pieces of broken glass on the paving, with sunlight catching on the edges of the shards in the same way it touches the waterdrops on the lake and backlights the seed pods on reeds rocking in the wind. Yesterday I walked through Cape Town's Company Gardens, and I listened to the sound of the pigeons and other birds. I watched as two squirrels chased each other over the lawn - playful, quick and carefree... Completely caught up and present in the moment.

I spoke to someone yesterday who mentioned that the older he gets, the quicker time seems to go. I replied saying that it might be that we try and put too many things into the spaces of  time available to us. What if we take a bit of time each day to do nothing - to just absorb, smell, feel, touch, think about, see, taste, hear, and appreciate what we have around us at the present moment? This is essentially what Land Art is to me - an expression of being, reflecting and expanding one moment. One extraordinary moment in the landscape, and making it timeless. Connecting myself to the earth through digging into the sand with my hands, caressing the rough bark of a tree or a soft velvety leaf, or holding smooth pebbles tightly in my hands before arranging them into a circle that could symbolize infinity and wholeness.

What if we are actually infinite beings, caught in a moment, in a place, in a body. What if the touch of my bare feet on the pine needles at the feet of Deer Park's trees is a moment of connection with the ancient spirit of earth that will last my lifetime? What if we could all experience timeless moments and an infinite profound appreciation for everything around us? What if we were all more aware and in rhythm with the cycles and time of the earth? Would we still chase our goals, societal status and monetary wealth in a race against time? Or would we be content within our sacred space of time, our special and connected moment, right here, right now.


Written by Janet Botes


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On another note, hop over to read the article "Land Art: Ephemeral Beauty, Eternal Bliss" - land art as a creative activity for kids here, which I accidentally came across while researching land art. And if you're on Pinterest, follow Vered Bar's very inspiring board Horticulture, Land/Earth Art.

Ecological Land Art Walk - sleep under the stars!

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Join for a two-day facilitated walk exploring the ecology of place through Land Art. Nature’s Valley to Keurbomstrand 13 & 14 August 2013

R 1 400 per person, sleep under the stars, fully catered.

Web registration page at: www.walkandnature.com 
or email: simonmaxb@gmail.com for more info.

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The Site_Specific SIDES Programme: CALL FOR PROPOSALS

click to enlarge

Site_Specific International Land Art Biennale
10 - 17 August 2013, Plettenberg Bay

Site_Specific hereby invites proposals for contemporary site specific land art works with the focus on using natural materials, and to create work that is ephemeral and embracing of the natural beauty of Plettenberg Bay.

20 SIDES ARTISTS

The second Site_Specific International Land Art Biennale will take place in Plettenberg Bay 10 - 17 August 2013. This year, Site_Specific will be opening the event to 15 more artists to create their work in Plettenberg Bay alongside the core group of invited artists from Germany, South Korea and South Africa.

We realised that there are many artists that want to be part of Site_Specific, although we can only financially support a core group of invited artists. Thus we have decided to invite an additional maximum of 20 artists as a ‘fringe’ group on the basis and mutual understanding that they will work independently.

These Site_Specific SIDE artists will have the opportunity to join the invited artists in the programme schedule for the period, including lectures, discussions, workshops and social events. The SIDES work will be on display in the same area as those of the invited core group, and will be included in the Site_Specific catalogue documenting the event.

PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE:

1. Support in identifying a site for your art work and the permission from all the relevant authorities.
2. Inclusion in the official programme and catalogue of Site_Specific 2013.
3. Participation in the evening lectures, discussions, workshops and social events of Site_Specific 2013.
4. Inclusion and exposure to all media that will cover the event.
5. On approval of your proposal, you will receive a Site_Specific Participant Passport, that will entitle you to significantly discounted accommodation and other offers at Plettenberg Bay establishments.

CALENDAR

1. Application deadline: 2 May 2013
2. Selection of artists: 2 June 2013 
3. Working on site in Plettenberg Bay: 10-17 August 2013
4. Opening event: 17 August 2013
5. Closing and dismantling of art work: 18 August 2013

CONDITIONS

1. Artists will be responsible for their own transport, accommodation, meals etc.
2. Artists will be responsible for their own material, tools, realisation and installation of art work.
3. Artists will accept and obey all the rules and guidelines provided by Site_Specific during the week long event.

COPYRIGHT

Site_Specific reserves the right to publish photographs and films showing the exhibited art works.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send the following information to sides@sitespecific.org.za by 2 May 2013.

1. A concept drawing of your proposed art work showing it from different angles.
2. Explanation: title, technique and size of the proposed art work.
3. List of materials that you plan to use.
4. Describe a preferred site along the Milkwood Trail in Plettenberg Bay (including Main & Robberg Beach) that you have in mind for the work. Other sites can be considered if relevant.
5. Supply a time frame for installing your art work and taking it down on 18 August 2013.
6. Supply your name and contact details (email address and mobile phone number).
7. Proof of EFT payment, please use SIDE plus your name as payment reference i.e. SIDEnameSurname.

APPLICATION FEE

Please pay ZAR 250.00 into our account to help cover administrative costs.

FNB, Account name: K2102029381
Account no.: 62353123335
Rosebank branch code: 250655
Reference: SIDEyourName

Proposals without proof of payment will not be processed.